Child recognizes and develops the ability to explain how material objects change and how they remain stable.
What educators might observe
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Tests the stability of physical objects, for example, patting, banging, reaching inside, and sitting on an empty box
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Looks for a toy that has been hidden under a blanket
Child uses symbolic thought to represent.
What educators might observe
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Rolls a toy car back and forth on the floor
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Uses two objects that go together to pretend (e.g., puts a spoon in a bowl and stirs)
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Uses a bottle and pretends it contains a favorite drink (e.g., “leche”)
Child develops the ability to store, retrieve, and share information about past experiences.
What educators might observe
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Remembers information about recent event (e.g., continuing to play peek-a-boo after caregiver has stopped playing)
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Uses gestures or single words for a family member after morning drop-off (e.g., going to the door and saying, “Mama?”)
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Imitates actions that they have observed in the past (e.g., watching caregiver blow on hot food before eating, then blowing on own food–hot or cold)
Child becomes a scientific thinker by manipulating objects, asking questions, making observations and predictions, and developing generalizations.
What educators might observe
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Brings familiar or new objects they are curious about to a trusted adult
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Laughs at unexpected events, such as when a ball they have rolled up an incline begins to roll back
Child understands and explores the causes and effects of actions and events.
What educators might observe
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Watches for reactions from other people when an event has occurred, such as an adult answering the phone when it rings
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Repeats actions many times to cause an effect, such as dropping an object for a caregiver to pick up
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Puts objects into a container, turns it over, watches the objects fall out, and then fills it up again
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Approaches objects with an intent to cause a certain effect (e.g., pats a drum, twists a knob, turns on a light switch)
Child plans and uses hands, tools, and technology to solve problems with materials.
What educators might observe
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Uses objects as a means to an end (e.g., uses a bucket to transport blocks from one room to another)
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Crawls around a chair to get an object that has rolled behind it
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Keeps turning a container around to find the side with the lid or opening
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Attempts to unscrew lids to get objects out of them
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Undoes materials such as fasteners on shoes or tape on surfaces
Child recognizes some similarities and differences between familiar and unfamiliar people, objects, or experiences.
What educators might observe
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Shows preference for particular items such as toys, cups, or clothing
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Knows trash can is something you place items in, but may put objects other than trash in it
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Selects a duck when educator asks, “Where’s the duck?”
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When unfamiliar adult enters the room, may cry or move toward familiar person
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Begins to understand the similarities and differences in speech sounds and distinguishes and imitates patterns of speech
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Chooses to play with the red car even though there is a blue one just like it
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Knows some objects that go together (e.g., puts the doll in a toy stroller)
Child understands and explores numbers and quantity.
What educators might observe
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Tries to hold onto two large balls while reaching for third ball
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Fills a bucket with objects and dumps it out
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Holds a block in each hand and bangs them together
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Shakes head “no” when asked if they want more food
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Puts multiple blocks in each cup of a muffin tin
Child develops the ability to identify, describe, extend, and create patterns.
What educators might observe
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Hands object back and forth to educator
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Demonstrates understanding of what comes next in their daily routines (e.g., goes to get shoes after breakfast because the group always goes outside at this time)
Child understands how objects, points, lines, and shapes fit in space.
What educators might observe
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Attempts to roll body over
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Puts smaller object inside larger one, such as placing small toy in a bucket
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Uses trial and error to play with objects that can fit inside openings (e.g., tries to put different sized balls into the top of a large jug)
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Repeatedly puts things in and takes them out (e.g., sticks a peg in a hole and pulls it out again)
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Takes rings off a stacking ring and then puts one or two back on
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Stacks blocks on each other, but may put bigger block on smaller one or try to balance a square on a triangle
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Gets in and out of things (e.g., climbs into a large laundry basket and then climbs back out)
